SUZAKU IS AN IMPRESSIVELY PRINCIPLED MAN! - Code Geass #4

Jeremiah (talks shit about Zero) Lelouch (using the Geass): I'm about to end this man's whole career.

Phillip Ribbink

In 55 B.C.E. the Celtic tribes of Britain unite under a man named Alwin, whom they proclaim high king, and throw off Julius Caesar's invasion (this also happened in real life but without the high king). Fully and newly united, the Britons are able to throw off the Claudian invasion in 43 C.E., unlike in real life where that invasion ended up conquering Britain for Rome. Thus Britain retains Celtic culture for much longer, yet for some reason a lot of the historical figures we know from real life end up existing anyway. Also, you might notice that the calendar system in the show is called a.t.b. This stands for Ascension Throne Britannia. Originally, the a.t.b. calendar was essentially identical to the Gregorian Calendar, but started in 55 B.C.E. instead of 1 C.E. So years were 55 years earlier (2010, the year of Japan's conquest in the show, is actually our 1955, 2017 is our 1962, etc., with technological disparity explained by Sakuradite). They may or may not have retconned this to no longer be the case but personally I think it adds character. Anyway, centuries later, a substance dubbed "Philosopher's Stone" is discovered at Stonehenge. It's a very volatile substance, later becoming a valuable energy source, though it is quite scarce. Marco Polo discovers an extremely large deposit of it in Japan, where it's called Sakuradite (after it's pinkish color), which becomes its common name. A century or two later, Elizabeth I bears a son, despite having been publicly single all her life. Henry IX is the child's name, and so her line continues. Possible fathers include Sir Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester; Sir Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex; and Sir Carl, Duke of Britannia, whom all gain influence through this. When Henry IX takes the throne the Golden Age of the Tudor dynasty beings. Now the royal line diverges heavily from real life, yet some things remain the same. The greatest year irl 1776 CE (1831 a.t.b.) comes around, but this time the American Revolution, here known as Washington's Rebellion, is a failure, as Benjamin Franklin is bribed with royal titles by the Duke of Britannia.(Personally I find this insulting that Ben of all people could've been bribed so I choose to believe Geass was involved.) Meanwhile in the filthy mainland, the world enters an Age of Revolution (which passes Britain by, now under rule by Henry X) with the French Revolution eventually leading to a united European country called Europia United. As Britain was never part of this EU they never needed to Brexit. Napoleon does still come along and is a dictator for a bit, though he's eventually gotten rid of, but he wins the Battle of Trafalgar, invading Great Britain, occupies London, and the isles are conquered and made part of the EU. Queen Elizabeth III retreats to Edinburgh where a revolutionary militia arrests her and forces her to abdicate, ending the monarchy. This event is known as the Humiliation of Edinburgh. However, Sir Ricardo von Britannia, Duke of Britannia, and his friend and subordinate, Sir Richard Hector, Knight of One, bring Elizabeth III and her followers to the New World and establish a capital on the east coast of North America. Side-note regarding the Knight of One title: There is an institution in Britain here called the Knights of the Round (they dropped the Table for some reason), with the highest member called the Knight of One, and there being Knights of Two, Three, etc. through a Knight of Twelve. This institution is ported over to the new nation of Britannia, they'll come into play in the second season. Elizabeth III nominates her lover, Sir Ricardo von Britannia, as her successor upon her death. She ends her reign for being "the Queen who loved throughout her stormy life". The A.T.B. calendar is established at this time. so. Thus, the Holy Britannian Empire is formed. Meanwhile, Napoleon is killed before he can declare himself emperor, so basically those blasted revolutionaries let him do all the work then killed him off lmao (or perhaps he was assassinated by Britannian agents). Next is a ramp up in technology. In 1853 a.t.b. Britannia finishes stabilizing its country and begins looking for foreign opportunities, especially in the Pacific. Commodore Matthew Perry crosses the Pacific with four black ships with outer rings that are operated with electric motors. They discover Japan, who have an isolationist policy. Japan realizes that they'd fallen behind the rest of the world. Some other stuff happens in the 1860s a.t.b. from some side materials, not really important. Somewhere along the way Britannia decides that Charles Darwin's theories are a good way to run an Empire as you've probably figured out by now. They even proclaimed him a Saint despite the fact that he'd absolutely hate it. Some form of trench warfare occurs in the late 19th/early 20th century a.t.b., and in 1944 a.t.b. Japan loses a major war and embraces democracy (by force tbh). Some major shit went down in the royal family of Britannia during the 50s, this'll be covered a bit in the show. It's referred to as the Emblem of Blood, and it was just as bad as that name makes it sound. And then in the 2000s, Britannia and Japan enter some. Talks. About Japan's Sakuradite resources. Thus, the lead in to the show. You're welcome for this completely useless info dump, but I figured maybe someone would find it interesting.

Robert Eisenman

Oh man I totally missed that you started this I had wanted to give the alternate history timeline/backstory in case you were interested. I'm gonna do it here, be warned that at least half of this is pure nonsense and doesn't hold up to strict examination but may be of interest to the curious regardless. And it's also gotten changed a few times and now makes even less sense. I'm going to say it the way I originally learned it and the way that makes the most sense to me. Gonna actually include it in a subcomment cuz it's long.

Robert Eisenman

Without looking back and rewatching the High I.Q. show, that is Code Ment, who can remember what happens in Code Ment and Code Geass as things unfold?

The Gimpster 101

I actually am really surprised. I avoided this anime after a couple failed attempts based purely off DN hype cos Lelouch was said to be a nice lead off when you need more. I watched just a bit and lost interest quickly. But I enjoy Curtis' sometimes silly reactions so I figured I'd try again. I ended up really loving Suzaku's kinder, probably overly selfless approach. Idk how it pans out but I'm curious. And maybe Lelouch develops a bit more, too.

Rue Surnameunimportant

Nice. I was wondering how you'd react to Suzaku's little speech in this episode. (It's certainly not the last time you'll hear them debate their ideals, but this is really the first true taste of it.) Obviously, there's still a lot to learn about why Suzaku views the world the way he does, but I like that you haven't written him off for it. A lot of the time, he felt idealistic enough to be too naïve to actually change anything to me, but there was always something likable and honorable about his character, even when I disagreed with him. Lelouch and Suzaku may have opposing methods, but I really like them both as characters.

RyssaVionus

Yeah... I would not be watching this on my own. Every day I struggle to start the Code Geass episode, but end up enjoying it nonetheless.

V_VMat

I cant help thinking it is genetic, every member of the family we have seen till now has it.

Miklar Sihn

Jouta......

Gigamac24

Welcome, let me be the first to give you bad touch.

Gigamac24

Zero, the man who makes the impossible possible. Clearly Lelouch was a theater kid because his theatricality is amazing. Waiting to turn around until the moment the train enters a tunnel so the lights dim, and the entirety of the Suzaku rescue. Gave ol' cameraman a nice wide grin.

Tyler

You can see why Diethard loves him. His natural theatricality is just off the charts.

Tyler

The old man /tailor looking guy who i think is from the chess game made it iirc

PKKite

I always wonder how Lelouch got his whole costume, do they sell those ? Did he watch a "DIY terrorist costume" tutorial on youtube ? Did he use the geass on the Arts&Crafts club of his school ?

LireKlein

Like, he's wayyy more compelling for me than Lelouch.

Rue Surnameunimportant

Ah man! You know, I tried to watch this anime a couple times and got thrown off by the powers and mecha aspect, but Suzaku is kinDA making me enjoy the show??? ?

Rue Surnameunimportant

looking at Lelouch's costume you can definitely tell it was designed by Clamp, between the extravagant outfit and all the characters being so thin and long legged.

Chrome

One thing Code Geass nailed is creating complicated and flawed characters. It sure makes them feel more alive and dynamic

I'm a relatively new goosher and I wanted to say how happy I am that random middle aged men from upstate New York can decide to make a living and a community this way, what a time to be alive. Live long and prosper -Yarrow from the Bahamas

Kokupsi

Afro Mic always deserves a good slap, though! :-D

Spaz Boys Comedy

Lelouche makes poses like he watched a lot of jojo's lol. Also the woman at the end is indeed the one who gave him Geass

Garlic

No one - Curtis - gonna bitch slap afro mic. Smh poor afro mic.

Samuel Desjarlais

Suzaku staying away would help Lelouch a lot, since the Britannians would have to look for him and would more than likely tighten their fist on the 11 population, creating more angry 11's and thereby strengthening terrorist groups. Suzaku going back does somewhat reduce that effect, although there still is the fact that Zero is out there to generate some of the above effects, but not nearly as much as having them both out there would.

Miklar Sihn

If you look, Lelouch just naturally looked directly into the camera when he said who killed Clovis.

Miklar Sihn